Acting of Secretary of Papua Province (Jubi)
Jayapura, 13/2 (Jubi) – The Provincial Government of Papua is committed to supporting Indonesia’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, an official said.
As part of its commitment, the provincial government has finalized two planning documents i.e. Local Action Plan for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions (RAD GRK) and Provincial Strategic Action Plan for Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (SRAP REDD) of Papua.
“SRAP REDD+ is an integral part of the GHG strategic action plan of Papua Province,” the Regional Secretary of Papua Province, Hery Dosinaen, told to reporters on Thursday (13/2) in Kota Jayapura, Papua.
Papua is extremely concerned about emissions from forest and land degradation, Dosinaen said. Research showed 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from forestry, agriculture, plantation and husbandry sectors.
Government institutions in charge of forestry and land sectors should implement sustainable development in line with the provincial government’s vision and mission with the motto: Papua Bangkit, Mandiri dan Sejahtera (Awakened, Independent, and Prosperous).
“I hope through the mitigation actions in provincial strategic action plan of REDD+ in 2020, we can reduce 65 percent of emissions that come from 61,691 percent of forest stabilization action plan and 4,004 percent of the enhancement of forest carbon absorption,” he added.
Papua is home to nearly 31 million hectares of forest area that stores 4.5 billion carbon stocks of above ground, not including the stocks in the soils, such as the approximately 2 million hectares of peatland.
“Papua has the largest forest area in Indonesia which must be conserved in order to significantly reduce green house emissions,” Dosinaen said.
Earlier Governor Lukas Enembe said Papua’s dense forests are very beneficial.
“I’ve been thinking about conserving the forests. If it’s sustained, human beings in this world will survive. But if it’s deforested, then people will lose their lives,” he said. (Jubi/Alex/rom)
